Halftime Lead Doesn't Hold in 59-46 Defeat for Women's Basketball

Dec. 3 - (ROCHESTER, N.Y.) - A 21-20 halftime lead for the Tartans of Carnegie Mellon doesn't hold as the women's basketball team lost a tough battle 59-46 to the University of Rochester in Rochester, N.Y. on Saturday, December 3. The game was the first University Athletic Association (UAA) match-up of the year for both teams. The Tartans fall to 1-4 on the year and 0-1 in UAA play, while the Yellowjackets improve to 5-1 and 1-0.

It was a slow start for both teams but Carnegie Mellon held a 15-9 lead with 4:40 to play in the first half. At that point, Rochester used a 9-0 run to take a 18-16 lead over the next 2:26 before the half ended with Carnegie Mellon holding the one-point lead.

A 3-pointer by freshman guard Stacie Aleski (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley) gave Carnegie Mellon a 26-25 lead before the two teams would trade baskets over a two-and-a-half minute span. A lay-up by Rochester freshman Alex Porter with 14:35 to go in the game gave her squad a 33-32 advantage and the lead for the rest of the game. Tartan freshman forward Jeanette Schilling (Houston, Texas/Cypress Creek) had three straight jumpers during that time.

In the end, turnovers hurt the Tartans, as Rochester was able to score 24 points off 25 Carnegie Mellon turnovers. Even though the Cardinal & Grey out-rebounded the Yellowjackets 34-32, the home team was able to score 15 second chance points and 30 points in the paint to the Tartans 16.

Carnegie Mellon freshman forward Rachelle Roll (Ostrander, Ohio/Buckeye Valley) led with 16 points and six rebounds. She was 8-8 from the free throw line and her 16 points ties a career-high. Schilling finished with a career-high 12 points and eight rebounds in 15 minutes off the bench.

Junior guard Danielle Muller led Rochester with 18 points on 8-11 shooting from the field. Porter pulled in a double-double with 14 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.

The Tartans finish their road trip and return home to host Grove City College on Tuesday, December 6 at 6:00 p.m. at Skibo Gymnasium.